Yihyun Kwon, DC, PhD, MSc, MSOM, LAc

Dr. Kwon, assistant dean
of acupuncture and oriental medicine, is one of the pioneers in
integrative medicine, both by his training and in his history of
leadership within the MSAc and MSOM programs at NUHS.

Born in a small town in South Korea, Dr. Kwon's father was an
oriental medicine practitioner. Kwon grew up absorbing much of his
father's knowledge. However, when he began his own medical career,
he chose a foundation in basic sciences. He earned both a
bachelor's degree in biology and a master's degree in microbiology
from Chung Ang University in Seoul. Afterwards, he studied diabetes
and cancer at the Yunsei University in Seoul and at the University
of Calgary in Canada, and worked in a research lab for eight
years.

While in Canada, Kwon hurt his ankle and received chiropractic
treatment. This prompted him to look into chiropractic medicine. "I
realized that the study and practice of chiropractic and
acupuncture could work very well together, like the completion of a
puzzle," says Dr. Kwon.

In 1998, he moved to Chicago and simultaneously studied for and
received both a doctor of chiropractic degree from National
University of Health Sciences as well as a master's degree in
acupuncture and oriental medicine from Midwest College of Oriental
Medicine in 2002. Afterwards, he worked for three years as a family
practice resident at National University. In 2010, Dr. Kwon earned
his PhD from Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese
Medicine.

Dr. Kwon says, "Personally, I'm very interested in integrating
western and eastern medicine. This integrative approach is the
first of two unique attributes that set NUHS' degree programs
apart. Our students share certain classes with naturopathic
medicine (ND) and chiropractic medicine (DC) students, such as
diagnostic imaging and lab diagnosis, western botanical medicine,
and nutrition.

"The fact is that when you are out there practicing as an
acupuncturist or oriental medical practitioner, you will have to
interact with DCs, NDs and MDs. If you have no access to them while
you are in school, and don't understand their perspective, you will
be at a disadvantage," he says.

"The second unique attribute of our programs is our emphasis on
clinical practice-based learning. Traditionally, Chinese medicine
was mostly taught in a master/apprentice relationship. Our students
observe and train in the clinic from the second trimester on, so we
can more closely simulate the benefits of that traditional learning
environment. This is also why we keep a very low student to
clinician ratio, so we can best duplicate that apprentice-type
training."

"Many American students have little exposure to eastern cultural
history and philosophy. Oriental medicine demands that you change
your way of thinking. Western medicine is based in rationalism and
Greek logic and the scientific method. But the eastern path is
about concepts of yin and yang, the five phases, as well as
intuition and sensory information. So to better understand eastern
medicine you need a 'Copernicus overhaul.' You need to completely
change the way you think." Dr. Kwon explains that Copernicus was
the only scientist in his time who proposed that the earth rotated
around the sun, instead of the solar system revolving around the
earth. This revolutionary theory put the sun rather than the earth
at the center of the known universe.

Why does Dr. Kwon recommend NUHS over other acupuncture or
oriental medical schools? "We have a very high education standard.
For example, we have the same amount of hours in western science as
other acupuncture schools, but the level at which we study them is
higher. We learn about radiology and MRI and how to look at films,
what is normal and what is abnormal. While we who practice
acupuncture and oriental medicine aren't expected to base a
diagnosis on laboratory tests, our patients often bring in their
medical records, and we have to able to read and understand them, "
says Dr. Kwon.

"At NUHS we
have graduate medical school facilities and science laboratories,
and one of the largest medical libraries in the Chicago area. Our
students study anatomy in a full gross anatomy laboratory, with
human dissection. Our on-campus integrative medical clinic has very
nice treatment rooms and its own herbal dispensary. Right now we
have 10 faculty members working with our students, and will add one
more later," adds Dr. Kwon. This number doesn't include the dozens
of other researchers and faculty members working in other
departments on campus. He points out that these sorts of benefits
are clear advantages for students who choose to study in a
university like National, as opposed to smaller acupuncture
colleges with less resources.

"Because our educational standards are higher, our entry
requirements are also higher. We are one of the very few
acupuncture and oriental medical schools in the country to require
a bachelor's degree for admission," says Dr. Kwon.

"Starting these new programs has been really exciting,
especially since I have the opportunity to really engage my
educational philosophy about eastern and integrative medicine."